This is the stretch with movement built in. One forward still posts the far blue line, but the other two cross behind him, exchanging lanes so the defenders have to switch checks in the middle of the neutral zone.
Reading the diagram: D1 has the puck. F1 posts on the middle of the ice and the solid arrow shows the puck being moved into the line marker — the target. Behind him, F2 comes down out of the high slot while F3 comes up from below, and the two curved routes cross in the neutral zone. That crossing is the whole play: whoever tracks them has to communicate, and a half-second of confusion is enough for the post to gain the line clean.
Read it off the defenders. If they switch cleanly, hit the post. If they follow their man through the cross, one of the crossing forwards comes free and gets it instead.
What to look for
- One forward holds the line as the post — the target never moves
- Two forwards cross behind him to force a switch
- The cross must happen before the puck is released, not after
- Read the defenders: switch means hit the post, follow means hit the crosser
Coaching cues
- Post holds, others cross
- Cross early, arrive fast
- Make them switch
- Take what the switch gives you
Common mistakes
- Crossing too close together so one defender covers both
- The post drifting offside while the cross develops
- Waiting for a perfect look and losing the line
- All movement on one side of the ice
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